National symposium on disaster risk reduction in Kenya

Type:

Meeting or Conference

Organizer:

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST)

Date:

29-31 Jan 2013

Location:

Kenya (Nairobi)

Venue:

Sirikwa Hotel, Eldoret, Kenya

Language:

English

The overall goal of the symposium is to facilitate the exchange and updating of information on disaster risk reduction associated with climate variability and change. It will bring together key stakeholders that will, in part, integrate and forge linkages towards enhanced national capacity to reduce disaster risks.

Kenya is highly vulnerable and exposed to several disaster crises which are being exacerbated by climate variability and change. These crises have derailed societal development and negatively influenced the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Kenya Vision 2030. Between 1993-2010 the international database on disasters showed that 73 disaster events (covering drought, epidemics, flood, landslide and a tsunami) occurred and affected a cumulative total of over 48 million people (averaging 2.9 million people annually).

The Government of Kenya is, therefore, challenged to increase its capacity and expertise to attain the set objectives of the MDGs and Vision 2030. Recent initiatives include the creation of a thematic working group on Emergency and Disaster Response to mainstream DRR into vision 2030 and the Medium Term Plan (MTP) II. In September 2011, the Government of Kenya also drafted a ten-year strategy for ending recurrent drought emergencies in Kenya. The strategy paper was presented during an international conference, “The summit on the Horn of Africa Crisis” with the theme “Ending Drought Emergencies: A commitment to sustainable solutions”.However, much of the efforts to reduce disaster risk in Kenya are fragmented among different stakeholders within the Government, UN, NGOs and academia. This leaves much opportunity for developing multi-sectoral/ multi-disciplinary approaches. It is in this regard that the national conference aims to provide a venue for promoting integrative partnerships toward convergence of ideas for holistic solutions to reduce the impacts of disaster on the lives and livelihoods of the people of Kenya.

However, much of the efforts to reduce disaster risk in Kenya are fragmented among different stakeholders within the Government, UN, NGOs and academia. This leaves much opportunity for developing multi-sectoral/ multi-disciplinary approaches. It is in this regard that the national conference aims to provide a venue for promoting integrative partnerships toward convergence of ideas for holistic solutions to reduce the impacts of disaster on the lives and livelihoods of the people of Kenya

2. Review existing legal and institutional frameworks for national disaster risk reduction
3. Examine opportunities and challenges for mainstreaming the disaster risk reduction agenda at national and local levels

5. Identify knowledge gaps and common, urgent and emergent issues related to DRR and climate change in Kenya and document the scientific information and experiences into an integrative body of knowledge

6. Exchange location-specific knowledge and adaptation strategies that may inform scaling up initiatives in other regions

7. Promote partnerships and linkages among different sectors for collaborative activities in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Target audience

The symposium aims to attract about 100 key policy makers and planners, government staff, researchers, academicians, DRR practitioners, development workers, and other professionals from different international, government, non-government and academic organizations.